Dramatic plot twist in Ben Simmons saga nobody saw coming

The twists keep coming in Ben Simmons’ trade saga as reports indicate the Aussie may be admitting defeat in his standoff with the 76ers.

Well, this is unexpected.

After all his posturing to secure a trade out of Philadelphia, it looks like reality is starting to set in for Ben Simmons.

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Reports from the US media, first by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, reveal Simmons’ camp is breaking bread with the 76ers with thoughts towards suiting up for the franchise this season — despite making it clear he wants nothing more to do with the team.

According to multiple reports, Simmons’ agent Rich Paul has been in talks with Philadelphia management about bringing the Aussie basketball star back into the fold, as the start date of the new NBA campaign later this month edges ever closer.

ESPN reports 76ers coach Doc Rivers has been part of the discussions and Simmons may speak to Sixers officials for the first time since August, when he reaffirmed he wanted to be traded, as the two parties work on a resolution to the stand-off that has dominated headlines this NBA off-season.

While trade talks would continue, the report reveals Simmons is open to ending his holdout and serving the Sixers while a deal is worked out.

It had been reported previously Simmons would be prepared to sit out the entire season if a trade couldn’t be organised — but he appears to have changed his tune.

Rivers addressed the media after a practice session and was asked about the change in Simmons’ situation.

“We’ve said from day one what we wanted, that we would love to get him back,” Rivers said. “Other than that, there is nothing to report. Our position hasn’t changed at all.

“I’m not gonna talk about what Rich (Paul) and I have talked about, but clearly that’s what we want (for Simmons to play). We wouldn’t be talking if that wasn’t part of it, but I’m not gonna tell you exactly what we’ve been talking about.”

Rivers was also quizzed about Simmons’ relationship with other 76ers stars and what his attitude would be like should he rejoin them on the court.

“Players don’t get involved with people’s business. That is the one thing that I think is probably overplayed more than anything,” Rivers said.

“I’ve been a player when this has happened before and I was a player that has done it before and other than that first 10 minutes of welcoming back and taking the c**p from your teammates about missing camp and stuff, guys wanna win.

“I’m not (worried about Simmons’ attitude). I’m not, honestly. We’ve been around this before, haven’t we?

“We really have in different ways. My guess is when, if he comes, I think he’ll be ready to play.”

Philadelphia star Furkan Korkmaz told reporters he was hopeful of playing alongside Simmons again.

“I’ve played my (entire) career with Ben,” Korkmaz said. “I don’t know what the decision is going to be, what they make, what the organisation makes. I would like to play with him, again.

“I want to see him back here. On the court, off the court, I know what kind of person he is. How strong a character he is. We would like to have him back. I would like to have him back.”

A return is on the cards. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Simmons has tried his best to force the Sixers’ hand even though he still has four years and $AUD200m remaining on his deal. He refused to show up for pre-season camp and didn’t appear in Philly’s first practice match against Toronto last week.

It was reported Simmons would be fined approximately $AUD494,000 for missing the clash — and for every game he was absent after that, both in the pre-season and the campaign proper.

The Sixers have played hardball and kept a disgruntled Simmons on their books because they haven’t been able to agree to adequate trade terms with another team. They want a bona-fide star in return for their three-time All-Star but rivals haven’t been willing to cough up a package that satisfies Philadelphia bosses.

It doesn’t help that Simmons’ trade value was hurt by his offensive woes in last season’s playoffs defeat to Atlanta — the catalyst for the Aussie wanting out of the City of Brotherly Love.

Comments by Rivers and teammate Joel Embiid questioning Simmons in the wake of that playoffs defeat — when the 25-year-old’s shooting frailties were in the spotlight — reportedly hurt the former No. 1 draft pick and played a part in him seeking a trade away from the only NBA team he’s known.

Whether an arrangement can be made that sees him return to the 76ers remains to be seen, but if it goes ahead then it could make for an awkward reunion after Simmons snubbed teammates wanting to check on him and word leaked out he no longer wanted to share the floor with All-Star centre Embiid.

Embiid himself dropped some truth bombs on Simmons recently, clearly fed-up with his teammate’s antics.

Will there be a reunion in Philly? (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America / AFP)

“I feel like over the years, our team has been built around (Simmons),” Embiid said earlier this month. “Our teams have always been built around his needs.

“Even going back to the reason we signed Al (Horford), we got rid of Jimmy (Butler), which I still think was a mistake, just to make sure he (Simmons) needed the ball in his hands and that’s the decision they made.

“The situation is disappointing, borderline kind of disrespectful to all the guys that are out here fighting for their lives.

“Some guys rely on the team being successful to stay in the league and make money somehow. Because if you’re on a winning team, you’re always going to have a spot in the league, just because you’re on a winning team and you contributed.

“We are a better team with him, there’s no question about it. We still hope he changes his mind, but I kind of owe it to these guys to worry about what we have here.”